1 Doctrine of Mental Attitude Sins 1. Mental attitude sins produce great unhappiness in the soul. This self-induced unhappiness is the natural by-product of a heart that meditates on wicked imaginations, envy, jealousy, bitterness, anger, pride, pettiness, and deceit. If a person will change their thinking, their emotions and actions will also be changed. Proverbs 23:7 For as he [any person] thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. 2. Mental attitude sins are listed among the seven sins which God hates the most. Proverbs 6:16 These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. Special Note. Notice there are three categories of sins: sins of the tongue, sins of the mind, and overt sins. Sins of the mind: pride, wicked imaginations, feet that are swift in running to mischief (in order to spread gossip and malign) Sins of the tongue: lying, bearing false witness, sowing discord Sins of overt action: murder (which is the shedding of innocent blood) Special Note. Murder is one of the greatest of sins because the ultimate motive comes from the devil. John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 3. Mental attitude sins will keep a person from entering the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 4. In contrast to mental attitude sins is the command to love one another. John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
2 1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 5. The love that the believer is commanded to hold in the mentality of the soul is agape love, philos love, and, when married, eros and storge love. Agape love is expressed when a right attitude results in right actions at the right time. The story of the Good Samaritan illustrates this concept. Agape love is an affection or benevolence freely given because of who and what the person is who loves. Agape love is more than a lovely feeling, it is an act of the will. Luke 10:30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. 36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise. Agape love can be expressed toward everyone, including those who hurt us and treat us badly. Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; Philos is brotherly love and is used most often to express a close friendship. David and Jonathan illustrate phileo love. 1 Samuel 18:1 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2 And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house. 3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. 6. It is not always possible to have philos or a close relationship with someone. Romans 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Special Note Storge is an affectionate love, the type of love a person might have for a family member or a spouse. The emotion Joseph showed his brothers who came to Egypt to see him would be an example of storge.
3 Eros love is the basis for the word erotic and indicates passionate or sexual love. The Song of Solomon would be an example of eros within a marriage relationship. 7. Agape love can only be produced by the filling of the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 8. A Christian cannot be happy if mental attitude sins are residual in the soul. Therefore, there must be no mental attitude sins of bitterness, of pride, of vindictiveness, of implacability, no jealousy or hatred, no guilt complex, fear, no worry, no mental murder which is hatred or character assassination of someone, and no mental adultery. 9. There are a variety of biblical ways to deal with mental attitude sins. Make sure there is a new birth. John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. No fleshly unbeliever can produce human good. Romans 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. Divine good can only be produce by knowledge of the Word of God united with the filling of the Holy Spirit. Remember the Word of God. Titus 3:1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, 2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. 3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Obey a direct Biblical prohibition. Proverbs 3:31 Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. Be filled with, and walk in, the Spirit. Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. Speak to self. Engage in spiritual self-talk. Ephesians 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
4 Give thanks in every situation. Ephesians 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Manifest a spirit of humility. Ephesians 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Pray for deliverance from evil, and the Evil One, who encourages all mental attitude sins. Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Let the love of God flow from the heart. Romans 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Fear God. One reason why Joseph forgave his brothers and loved them in spite of what they had done to him was because he feared God. Genesis 42:18 And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live; for I fear God: Put time and distance between yourself and those that provoke mental attitude sins. When the herdsmen of Lot could not dwell without anger with the herdsmen of Abraham, a separation was agreed upon. Genesis 13:8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. 9 Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. 10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. 11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. 12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. Make no provision for mental attitude sins. Romans 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. Draw near to God. James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 10. With a proper mental attitude great works can be done for the glory of God. Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
5 11. The person who is filled with mental attitude sins cannot concentrate and so cannot be productive for the Lord. James 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. 12. Christians who live free of mental attitude sins find great enjoyment in life. John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 13. People who engage in mental attitude sins will be destroyed and will destroy others. Galatians 5:9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. Galatians 5:15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.